““Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.” Mark 1.25-28
When Jesus silenced the impure spirit who was speaking through the man there was arguing. The demon did not have even a second to defend himself from being silenced. There was no debate about whether demons or real, or whether it was polite to rebuke the demon in public. No one suggested the demon might have “feelings” and didn’t feel validated. No, when Jesus shut up the demon it was immediate and instant. Why? Because demons know their place when in the presence of Jesus.
So Jesus says, “Be quiet” and “Come out of him!” And the “impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek,” but he did not say another word. The exorcism was immediate and effective. One moment the demon was spouting out about who Jesus was, and the next, he was shut up and sent back to Hell.
And how did the people react? They were so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” And the account tells us that news about Jesus spread quickly and all over the whole region of Galilee.
A few points come to mind as I read this passage — 1) Jesus has full authority over heaven and earth. Demons obey him, humans should obey him; he has ultimate authority in life and death. 2) What Jesus does is news-worthy. Each and every work of his hands, command of his voice, fulfillment of God’s promise is worth the retelling.
The shriek from the demon was followed by the sharing of the Good News. The authority of the Word was preached by Jesus and people were brought into a relationship with him. We too can and should take this authority to proclaim God’s goodness and power. We have been given the same power as Jesus to cast our demons, to set people free, to share the goodness of the Gospel.
Let’s be bold and not afraid. Do not fear. God is with you. Greater is he who is in you then he who is in the world! (1 John 4.4).
“O Lord God, you are good. Thank you for saving me and declaring your victory over sin and death. I trust in you Lord. For you are my rock and my redeemer. When I am afraid, you comfort me. When I am alone, you walk beside me. When I stumble, you pick me up. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with your power and love. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen